Starmer unlikely to allocate more time for assisted dying bill, ministers believe

Keir Starmer is personally supportive of assisted dying and is angry with the conduct of the House of Lords in blocking the bill. Photograph: Thomas Krych/Zuma Press/Shutterstock

Senior ministers believe Keir Starmer will not intervene to give the assisted dying bill further time in the next session of parliament as he is wary of opening up new divisions among Labour MPs.

The bill, which was passed by the Commons, is now certain to be blocked in the House of Lords without ever reaching a vote because of the large number of amendments its opponents have tabled and debated.